Hydrangea plant named &#39;HORTMABLUSH&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hydrangea  plant named ‘Hortmablush’, characterized by its upright to broadly spreading plant habit; moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; freely branching habit with strong and thick sturdy stems; strong root system; mophead-type inflorescences with numerous red purple and white bi-colored sterile flowers; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical designation: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HORTMABLUSH’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant, botanically known as Hydrangea macrophylla, commercially referred to as a mophead-type Hydrangea and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Hortmablush’.

The new Hydrangea plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Boskoop, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to create new Hydrangea plants with strong root system and large inflorescences with numerous bi-colored sterile flowers and good postproduction longevity.

The new Hydrangea plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in April, 2006 in Boskoop, The Netherlands, of a proprietary selection of Hydrangea macrophylla identified as code number 03-015-06, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Hydrangea macrophylla identified as code number 02-029-06, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Hydrangea plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands in July, 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hydrangea plant by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Boskoop, The Netherlands has shown that the unique features of this new Hydrangea plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Hortmablush’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Hortmablush’ as a new and distinct Hydrangea plant:

-   -   1. Upright to broadly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Moderately vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.     -   3. Freely branching habit with strong and thick sturdy stems.     -   4. Strong root system.     -   5. Mophead-type inflorescences with numerous red purple and         white bi-colored sterile flowers.     -   6. Good postproduction longevity.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in sterile flower color as sterile flower sepals of plants of the female parent selection are solid red purple in color.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in growth habit as plants of the new Hydrangea are stronger and have stronger root systems than plants of the male parent selection. In addition, plants of the new Hydrangea are more freely branching than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can be compared to plants of the Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Harlequin’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘Harlequin’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more compact than and not as         tall as plants of ‘Harlequin’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea are more freely branching than         plants of ‘Harlequin’.     -   3. Plants of the new Hydrangea have stronger lateral branches         than plants of ‘Harlequin’.     -   4. Plants of the new Hydrangea have sturdier sterile flowers         than plants of ‘Harlequin’.

Plants of the new Hydrangea can also be compared to plants of the Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Hortmaserena’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons plants of the new Hydrangea differ primarily from plants of ‘Hortmaserena’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hydrangea have shorter lateral branches         than plants of ‘Hortmaserena’.     -   2. Plants of the new Hydrangea and ‘Hortmaserena’ differ in         sterile flower color as plants of ‘Hortmaserena’ have sterile         flower sepals that are darker red purple in color with narrower         white-colored margins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the unique appearance of the new Hydrangea plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hydrangea plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Hortmablush’.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘Hortmablush’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and in the following description were grown during the late spring in 17-cm containers in a glass-covered greenhouse in Boskoop, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Hydrangea production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 25° C. and night temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 17° C. Plants of the new Hydrangea were two years old when the photographs and description were taken. Plants of the new Hydrangea are not typically treated with aluminum sulfate to “blue” the inflorescences. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical description: Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Hortmablush’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea             macrophylla identified as code number 03-015-06, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Hydrangea             macrophylla identified as code number 02-029-006, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About three weeks at             temperatures about 15° C. to 25° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About six             weeks at temperatures about 15° C. to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             creamy white in color, actual color of the roots is             dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and             physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density;             strong root system. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Upright and broadly spreading plant             habit; overall plant shape is flattened globular; strong and             sturdy lateral branches; moderate growth rate and moderately             vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 42 cm.         -   Plant diameter or area of spread.—About 62.3 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit; when pinched, about             nine lateral branches develop per plant.         -   Length.—About 20.1 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 7 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 7.5 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous; fully developed, woody.         -   Aspect.—Upright to about 40° from vertical.         -   Strength.—Strong, sturdy.         -   Color.—When developing.—Close to 143B. Developed: Close to             144A to 144B; at the internodes, tinged with close to 187A;             when woody, close to 199A and 199B.         -   Lenticels.—Density: Sparse. Length: About 2 mm. Diameter:             About 0.5 mm. Color: Close to 187A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 13.3 cm.         -   Width.—About 10.3 cm.         -   Shape.—Broadly ovate to elliptic.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Obtuse to short attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Texture, upper surface.—Smooth to very slightly rugose,             glabrous.         -   Texture, lower surface.—Smooth to very slightly rugose,             surface mostly glabrous, however small tufts of short hairs             present at vein axils.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 141A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 138A. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than between 139A and             N189A; venation, close to 144A. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 137B; venation, close to 145A to 145B.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About 3.5 mm by             5 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous.             Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Showy sterile flowers and small             inconspicuous fertile flowers arranged on mophead-type             terminal panicles; panicles globular and slightly flattened             in shape; fertile flowers face mostly upright and sterile             flowers face upright to outwardly and slightly drooping             depending on their position in the inflorescence.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower from late spring to             late summer in The Netherlands.         -   Flower longevity.—Fertile flowers last about one week on the             plant, fertile flowers not persistent; sterile flowers last             about six weeks on the plant, sterile flowers persistent.         -   Quantity of flowers.—Freely flowering habit; about 110             fertile flowers per panicle and about 300 sterile flowers             per panicle.         -   Panicle height.—About 9.7 cm.         -   Panicle diameter.—About 19.9 cm.         -   Fertile flower buds.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About             3.5 mm. Shape: Obovate. Color: Close to 69D; towards the             base, close to 145C to 145D.         -   Sterile flower buds.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: About             2.5 mm. Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 68C.         -   Fertile flower diameter.—About 7 mm.         -   Fertile flower depth (height).—About 5 mm.         -   Sterile flower diameter.—About 3.9 cm.         -   Sterile flower depth (height).—About 1.8 cm.         -   Petals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four or             occasionally five in a single whorl; petals abscise before             fully developing. Length: About 3 mm. Width: About 2 mm.             Shape: Ovate, concave. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin:             Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color, when opening, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 76C; petals abscise before fully             developing.         -   Petals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: About             four in a single whorl. Length: About 3 mm. Width: About             2 mm. Shape: Ovate, concave. Apex: Acute. Base: Cuneate.             Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When opening,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 75C to 75D. Fully opened,             upper and lower surfaces: Close to 75C and 75D.         -   Sepals, fertile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Five or             occasionally four in a single whorl. Length: About 2 mm.             Width: About 1.5 mm. Shape: Ovate. Apex: Acute. Base:             Broadly cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper             and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: When             opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 150C to 150D             slightly tinged with close to 63D. Fully opened, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 150C to 150D slightly tinged with             close to 63D; color does not change with development.         -   Sepals, sterile flowers.—Quantity and arrangement: Four or             five in a single whorl. Length: About 2.6 cm. Width: About             2.6 cm. Shape: Broadly rhomboidal to broadly ovate. Apex:             Bluntly and broadly acute to short apiculate. Base: Cuneate.             Margin: Entire to finely irregularly dentate to serrate.             Texture and luster, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous; matte. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close             to 61D; towards the margins, close to NN155A. When opening,             lower surface: Close to 62A; towards the margins, close to             NN155A. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 64D; towards             the margins, close to NN155A; colors do not change with             development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to between             62A and 63C; towards the margins, close to NN155A; colors do             not change with development.         -   Pedicels, fertile flowers.—Length: About 2 mm. Diameter:             About 1 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: Mostly             upright, about 10° from vertical. Texture and luster:             Smooth, glabrous; matte. Color: Close to 63C to 63D.         -   Pedicels, sterile flowers.—Length: About 1.7 cm. Diameter:             About 1.5 mm. Strength: Moderately strong. Aspect: About 35°             from vertical. Texture and luster: Moderately pubescent;             matte. Color: Close to 63C.         -   Reproductive organs, fertile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: About ten. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament             color: Close to N155D. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther             shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to 155A. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 159D. Pistils: Pistil             quantity per flower: About three or four. Pistil length:             About 1 mm. Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close             to N155B. Style length: About 0.5 mm. Style color: Close to             69D. Ovary color: Close to 150D.         -   Reproductive organs, sterile flowers.—Stamens: Quantity per             flower: About eight. Filament length: About 3 mm. Filament             color: Close to N155D. Anther length: About 1 mm. Anther             shape: Oblong. Anther color: Close to 155A. Pollen amount:             Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 159D. Pistils: Pistil             quantity per flower: About three. Pistil length: About 1 mm.             Stigma shape: Club-shaped. Stigma color: Close to N155B.             Style length: About 0.5 mm. Style color: Close to 69D. Ovary             color: Close to 157D.         -   Seeds.—Seed development has not been observed on plants of             the new Hydrangea to date. -   Disease & pest resistance: Under commercial production conditions,     plants of the new Hydrangea have not been observed to be resistant     to pathogens and pests common to Hydrangea plants. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hydrangea have been shown     to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 5 to 9. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Hydrangea plant named ‘Hortmablush’ as illustrated and described. 